Freemuse, an international advocate for freedom of musical expression, has called for the unconditional release of Iranian singer Arya Aramnejad, who has been imprisoned in Iran since November 2011.
Freemuse, the World Forum on Music and Censorship, has launched a campaign and written a letter addressed to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, the head of Judiciary, Ayatollah Larijani, and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, calling for Aramnejad’s immediate and unconditional release.
A copy of the letter has also been forwarded to the European Union, the United Nation’s Human Rights Council, the Danish Foreign Ministry and various Danish media and organizations.
The letter reminds Iran that, as a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Iran is required to guarantee its citizens ”freedom of expression […] either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media….”
Freemuse says it has been informed that 28-year-old Armanejad has been allowed no legal presentation and has been subjected to frequent mistreatment in prison.
Aramnejad was reportedly first arrested on February 15, 2010, following the release of “Ali Barkhiz” (Ali Rise Up), a song in support of the Green Movement. He was held in solitary confinement for 50 days and sentenced to nine months in prison, which he has described as a brutal experience.
He was later arrested again in November of 2011 and, according to Freeemuse, is being kept “under the same inhumane conditions.”
Freemuse is helping to produce a concert on March 3, which is Music Freedom Day. International musicians will be performing Arya Aramnejad’s music in Brooklyn, New York at 5 Metrotech Center.
